CHARLIE MULGREW admits he is in the form of his life and believes the champions can only get better.

His first-half double and assist had Celtic on easy street at Rugby Park as they cruised to the SPL title.

But with youth on their side Mulgrew reckons more silverware is heading to the east end of Glasgow.

He said: “Yes, it is a young team. And I really hope it is the start of something good because the ability is there.

“We will enjoy it today but then we have to move on and think about next week because the cup semi-final is a huge match.”

Mulgrew has been a revelation since his return to Celtic Park and he is quick to pay tribute to the management team for bringing about his progress.

He showed his aerial prowess yesterday by nodding home an early corner to break the deadlock – if there was any – against Killie.

Mulgrew then showed his class by turning onto his right foot and drilling home a low shot past the helpless Cammy Bell. That was after he had sent over a pinpoint cross on to the head of Glen Loovens to power home at the backpost.

Not bad work for a supposed left- back.

He said: “Myself and a few of the boys owe a lot to the manager and the staff. They deserve a lot of credit because they are getting the best out of the team.

“It is the best form I have been in and again that is credit to the manager and the backroom team. I can’t thank them enough but I am sure they are delighted with the performance of the whole team today.

“As I said we will enjoy the moment and then work towards next week as there is hopefully more to come.

“I don’t get many goals with my right foot. To be honest, I just swung at it and was delighted to see it go in.

“But really the whole team played their part. The defence was solid, the midfield were on top and the boys up front looked sharp.

“Personally I am delighted because I grew up a Celtic fan and to get to play for my team is a dream come true – and to get a couple of goals today is absolutely brilliant.

“The most important thing was the victory today. The manager had said beforehand he wanted to win it in style but we would have taken a 0-0 or a 1-1.

“But I think this was something special, we needed that.

“A lot of credit has to go to the team for the way they started the game. The tempo was really high and the couple of early goals settled us.

“And I think I’ve said it before – our fans were the 12th man because they never stopped singing the whole game which kept us going. They certainly got their reward.

“I dont think there was ever a stage we could really relax. The early goals were great but we also wanted a cleansheet and we were hungry for more goals.

“Since the manager came in, the priority has been to win the league. We fell short last season and we were 15 points down at one stage this season.

“So the credit has to go to everyone for rallying round.

“Even at that stage we had to keep believing. As long as it is mathematically possible, you have to keep going and we certainly did.

“I don’t think anyone can deny we deserved it in the end.

“But now we have to prepare for the Hearts cup semi-final because that will be a tough game.”

Mulgrew’s man-of-the-match performance, with two goals and two assists, drew special praise from Lennon.

The manager said: “Charlie has been brilliant. He came on a free transfer from Aberdeen on not great wages. But we knew he had certain qualities that would make us better.

“He took time to adjust but once he found his feet he has been so consistent and he signed off the championship with a performance of great beauty.

“Everything you could ask of him he has done today and it encapsulates his season.”

The team re-emerged for a lap of honour wearing t-shirts declaring “This is just the beginning ... Champions 2012.”

And Lennon joked: “This is a young squad but I haven’t had any problems with them – apart from puberty and acne.

“They are babies in terms of football. They have come in for what I think is unjustified criticism but they have proved beyond doubt they are the best team in the country and they will grow.

“They are not anywhere near their peak yet. Samaras is the oldest player in the team at 27. At times there is a naivety about them, which I totally comprehend.

“But to win the championship over 33 games is a fantastic achievement.

“We are champions and we deserve to be champions.”

A delighted chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “I’m very proud of Neil and what he’s achieved.

“It was a huge triumph on the back of what he’s had to put up with in the past couple of years.